BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
20th CENTURY HISTORY
of
Springfield and Clark County, Ohio
and Representative Citizens
Publ: Biographical Publishing Co.
Geo. Richmond, Pres      C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas.
Chicago, Illinois
1908

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	GENERAL KEIFER - See Page 731 - Chapter XX
	EDWIN S. KELLY, one of Springfield's leading citizens, is president of the Home, Lighting, Power and Heating Company, and is vice president of the O. S. Kelly Company.  He was born Apr. 17, 1857, at Springfield, Ohio, and is a son of the late Hon. Oliver S. and Ruth Ann (Peck) Kelly.      Both parents of Mr. Kelly were born in Clark County, Ohio, and both passed awa at Springfield, the father on Apr. 9, 1904, and the mother May 9, 1901 They had five children, of whom two sons now survive. The late Oliver S. Kelly was one of Springfield's strong, intellectual, self-made men.  He was identified with many of her most successful enterprises and was prominent in her public affairs.      Edwin S. Kelly was reared at Springfield and received a collegiate education.  He became associated with his father in business while still a young man and has continued his connection with important enterprises.  Mr. Kelly married Martha Linn, who is a member of an old pioneer family that came to Clark County from Pennsylvania.  They have three children.  In political sentiment Mr. Kelly is a stanch Republican, but he is more of a business man than a politician. He owns a beautiful home at Yellow Springs, Ohio. Source: 20th Century History of Springfield and Clark County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Publ: Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago, Illinois - 1908 - Page 862
Hon. Oliver S. Kelly	HON. OLIVER S. KELLY.    The late Oliver S. Kelly was one of the citizens of Springfield whose energy, foresight and enterprise contributed very largely to the upbuilding of this city, of which he was a continuous resident from 1856 until his death, Apr. 9, 1904.  He was born in Clark County, Ohio, Dec. 23, 1824, and was a son of John and Margaret (McBeth) Kelly.  The Kelly family probably originated in Ireland and it is known to have been established in Virginia prior to the Revolutionary War, in which struggle James Kelly, the grandfather of the late Oliver S., took part, fighting for the independence of the colonies.      JOHN KELLY, one of his family of twelve children, was born in Virginia and accompanied his father to Ohio in 1808, settling in what is now Clark County.  He participated in the War of 1812.  Later he engaged in farming and so continued until his death, which occurred Sept. 25, 1825, at the age of thirty-six years.  He married Margaret McBeth, a daughter of Alexander McBeth, who survived her first husband and contracted a second marriage.      At the age of fourteen years, the late Oliver S. Kelly became entirely dependent on his own resources.  From 1838 until 1842 he was engaged in farming for William T. Mclntire, after which he served a three-year apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade.   According to the custom of the times, he then worked for one year as a journeyman, after which he formed a partnership with J. A. Anderson and together they carried on a large business until 1852, when Mr. Kelly decided to visit the mining regions of California.  He was so successful in his efforts there that when he returned to Ohio, in 1856, he had capital enough with which to enter into business.  In the fall of 1857 he invested his money in the purchase of an interest in the manufacturing business of Whitely & Fassler, which then became "Whitely, Fassler & Kelly, a business firm which for years was noted for its high-class products and honorable business methods.  Prior to his withdrawal from this firm in 1881, in order to enter the independent manufacturing field, it had commenced the building of the Champion line of agricultural implements, a very extensive plant having been built on East Street.      In 1882 Mr. Kelly purchased the Rhinehart & Ballard Threshing Machine Works, after which he organized The Springfield Engine & Thresher Company, which was incorporated with O. S. Kelly as president and O. W. Kelly as superintendent.  At a later date the capital stock was increased and the business became known as The O. S. Kelly Company, its purpose being the manufacturing of threshing machines and engines, with separators, feed-mills and other similar products.  An extensive plant was subsequently built at Iowa City, Iowa, where the feed-mills and separators were constructed.  For the past ten years the company has also been engaged in the manufacture of piano plates and it now stands at the head of this industry in the United States.  Another of their active lines is the manufacture and exporting of all kinds of rollers.      At one time Oliver S. Kelly was also connected with the banking interests of Springfield, and he built the Arcade Hotel and Nelson's Commercial College, a business block which remains one of the finest in Springfield.  He was especially prominent in the city's public life.  In 1863 he was chosen a member of the city council and served in that body for six consecutive years.  He was one of the most zealous promoters of the city's important public utilities.  When the waterworks was established here, John H. Thomas, George H. Frey and Oliver S. Kelly were appointed trustees to inaugurate and put the system in operation.  In 1887 he was elected mayor of Springfield, by the Republican voters, and during his administration the City Hall was built and the City Hospital was completed.  During this period also the city built the esplanade, of which it is justly proud, but the beautiful fountain in the vicinity was the gift of Mayor Kelly.  He subsequently served in many civic offices and on many business and charitable boards, lending his influence to all that was calculated to advance the public weal, and to add to the sum of human happiness in his city.  While thus occupied and interested, up to the close of his life performing a daily round of duties, the great company that he had founded was always the object of his first care and most engrossing thought.  Since his death the same business policy has been continued and its officers are all of his name and kindred.  Its president is OLIVER WARREN KELLY, its vice-president, Edward S. Kelly, and its secretary and treasurer, A. L. Kelly, two of the above officers being Mr. Kelly's surviving sons. Source: 20th Century History of Springfield and Clark County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Publ: Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago, Illinois - 1908 - Page 593
	JOHN KELLY - See Hon. Oliver S. Kelly Source: 20th Century History of Springfield and Clark County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Publ: Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago, Illinois - 1908 - Page 594
	O. W. KELLY - See Hon. Oliver S. Kelly Source: 20th Century History of Springfield and Clark County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Publ: Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago, Illinois - 1908 - Page 595
	SAMUEL J. KISSELL Was born at Beatty, Clark County, Ohio, Feb. 4, 1876, and is a son of Silas G. and Margaret (McClure) Kissell.  Silas G. Kissell, the father, was born in Maryland and came to Clark County when he was nineteen years of age.  He died in Mad River Township, Clark County, in 1905.  He and his wife, Margaret, were the parents of eight children.      When Samuel J. Kissell was two weeks old his parents set out with their family to Mad River Township, where the father owned a farm of 100 acres, on which Mrs. Silas G. Kissell still lives.  He attended the country schools during boyhood, and under his father’s training and with his mother’s encouragement, he developed into a capable farmer, and has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits entirely, with the exception of three years, when he traveled.  He married Zella B. Rice, who is a daughter of William and Matilda (Gowdy) Rice.      WILLIAM RICE was born in Clark County, Ohio, Feb. 17, 1833, and died in April, 1907. He was a son of Edward and Lucy (Pool) Rice, natives of Vermont, who came to Clark County at an early day.  On Jan. 3, 1856, William Rice was married to Matilda Gowdy, who died July 10, 1906.  She was a daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (McBeth) Gowdy. They came to Springfield Township in 1826 and settled on the farm which later passed into the possession of William Rice, and still later into that of his daughter, Mrs. Samuel J. Kissell.  Mrs. Kissell was born on the farm on which she still lives and on which she was married to Samuel J. Kissell on Dec. 31, 1902. Source: 20th Century History of Springfield and Clark County, Ohio and Representative Citizens - Publ: Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago, Illinois - 1908 - Page 684